Parabolic and spherical multiport illuminators for light guides

摘要

A light guide illumination system, which is used in transmitting illumination from a central source to a variety of remote locations, comprises an illumination source, a configuration of transfer lenses disposed around the illumination source, which are each adapted to focus emitted light from the illumination source in a generally outward direction from the illumination source, a plurality of condenser lenses, and at least one light guide. Each of the plurality of transfer lenses are adapted to focus light into a corresponding condenser lens, and the at least one light guide is adapted to receive light from the condenser lenses. The combination of the several elements of the inventive system results in a very efficient transfer of the energy of the light source to the fibers.